Bedtime Breathwork Therapy

Simple science for better sleep.

Why Should You Bother With Breathwork?

Because it works.

Breathwork therapy is one of the easiest ways to help your body calm down. It’s about slowing your breathing in specific ways to move your nervous system from “fight or flight” into “rest and digest.” Translation: from wired and wide-eyed to finally sleepy.

Done consistently, guided breathwork can help you:

- Fall asleep faster

- Wake up fewer times in the night

- Feel less frazzled in the evenings

and start switching off before bed - not just passing out

Breathwork Techniques That Actually Work (Even When You’re Exhausted)

Here are the go-to breathwork sessions we recommend. They’re fast, beginner-friendly, and surprisingly powerful.

1. Box-Breathing

How it works: Inhale (4 sec) → Hold (4 sec) → Exhale (4 sec) → Hold (4 sec)

Best for: Anxiety, nerves, overwhelm

Why it works: Slows your breath and gives your mind something to focus on

Watch out for:

Breath-holding might not feel great if you're panicky. Ease in.

2. 4-7-8 Breathing

How it works: Inhale 4s → Hold 7s → Exhale 8s

Best for: Falling asleep faster

Why it works: Long exhales relax your body. It slows your heart rate and helps you feel safe.

🛏 Try it with one of our bedtime breathwork sessions.

3. Cyclic Sighing

How it works: Deep inhale → Second small top-up inhale → Long sigh out

Best for: High stress, panic, emotional overload

Why it works: Just 5 minutes a day was shown in a Stanford study to reduce anxiety fast

Bonus: It’s instinctive — your body already sighs when overwhelmed

4. Belly Breathing (Diaphragmatic)

How it works: Breathe into your belly (it should rise), not your chest

Best for: Ongoing tension, post-meal calm, resetting your system

Why it works: Engages your diaphragm, activates your relaxation response

📚 Evidence here

How to Build Breathwork Into Your Bedtime Ritual

You don’t need a full-on wellness routine. Just a few minutes can change your night.

Start like this:

- Pick one breathwork technique

- Do it lying in bed or sitting quietly (3–5 mins to start)

- Pair it with our sleep sessions or hypnotherapy audios

- Make it a habit - same time, same place

Feeling Wired Before Bed? That’s Normal (But Not Helpful)

Evenings are no longer sacred. We're bombarded - WhatsApps, emails, TikToks, late-night “just one more episode.”

So by the time you try to fall asleep, your brain is still lit up like Times Square.

That’s where breathwork comes in. It’s like a wind-down button for your nervous system.

Slow breathing helps you:

- Stop replaying the day

- Stop planning the next one and actually settle into rest

frequently asked questions

We're answerable!

What is breathwork therapy?

It’s the use of controlled breathing techniques to calm the nervous system and support emotional wellbeing. It’s simple, effective, and backed by science.

Which breathwork session is best for sleep?

Try 4-7-8 breathing or cyclic sighing — both have been shown to slow the heart rate and ease your body into rest mode. They’re the stars of our bedtime breathwork sessions.

How long before I notice a difference?

Some people feel calmer after one session. Sleep improvements can happen in just a few nights, especially with consistent practice.

Can I use breathwork with other sleep tools?

Definitely. It works beautifully alongside hypnotherapy, journaling, and other practices in your wellbeing toolkit.

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